§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to apply employment protection and health and safety legislation to servants of the House of Commons in such a manner that they will be on the same legal footing as civil servants.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerDuring the Second Reading debate on the Employment Protection Bill my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave an assurance on behalf of the House authorities that parliamentary staffs would, so far as constitutionally possible, be treated similarly to civil servants in matters covered in the Bill and related legislation. I am at present considering in consultation with the House authorities and the Leaders of both Houses, the possibility of formally applying the legislation to parliamentary staffs to the same extent as it applies to civil servants.